Reviewer tip No. 2: Setting the color and tint controls using Blue-only mode on the Samsung PN50A550

The Samsung PN50A550 includes a specialized mode designed to make it easier for "AV device measurement experts," as the user manual puts it, to adjust the color control. Happily, anybody with a pair of eyes and access to a standard color bars pattern qualifies. Here's how to set it yourself.

1. After you've set up the other controls to your liking, get a color bars pattern onto the Samsung's screen. Your best bet is to use the SMPTE color bars pattern from a disc like Avia or Digital Video essentials. Or, if you're watching TV, you can wait until late at night when they show test patterns.

2. With the screen paused on the bars, navigate to the following menu:

Menu>[Picture mode; typically Movie]>Picture Options>Blue Only Mode>On

The screen will become entirely blue.

3. Go to the color adjustment:

Menu>[Picture mode]>Color

4. Look at the big blue bars on the far right and far left of the screen. Move the color control all the way up, then all the way down, and notice how the bars change in intensity. To set color correctly, you want to have both of those large bars match the intensity of both of the smaller, horizontal blue rectangles directly below the bars as closely as possible. It won't be perfect, and usually a setting around 50 is where you'll want to be.

5. Go to the tint adjustment:

Menu>[Picture mode]>Tint

Do the same thing, this time paring attention to the other two large blue bars to either side of the center black bar, and their intensity compared to the corresponding smaller blue rectangles directly below. Again, you'll probably end up near the middle of the range.

6. You'll notice that color and tint are interactive; moving one control also affects the intensity of the other control's corresponding bars and rectangles. The ideal end result is to have both sets of bars match their small rectangles in intensity as closely as possible.

7. You're done setting color. Return to the Picture Options menu and turn Blue Mode Only Mode off to return to full-color viewing.